Health Innovation Network Health Innovation Podcast

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May 2026

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About the show

Episodes focus on innovation in health and social care. You will hear valuable insights from clinical and industry leaders, plus innovators working with them to transform the health and social care system.

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60 recent

May 12, 2026Episode 6322 min

63: Implementing AI: learnings from a north London project

AI and digital transformation will be vital to delivering on the ambitions of the 10 Year Health Plan – to increase NHS productivity and deliver on the three shifts. In this episode, recorded live at Digital Health Rewired, we delve into a real-world example of this, exploring a project in North East London, where AI-guided clinical coaching is being used to ease pressure on urgent and emergency care services. Claire Portsmouth, Director of Communications and Engagement at the Health Innovation Network, is joined by Dr Chris Laing, CEO at UCLPartners and Hugh Lloyd-Jukes, CEO of Health Navigator, who share more about this three-year programme of work with NHS North East London, which takes a proactive, preventative approach to reduce demand on the system and support patients to access the right care, at the right time. They also share their biggest learnings from embarking on an AI implementation project in the NHS.

March 8, 2026Episode 6226 min

62: Forging a more equitable future: innovation in women’s health

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, this special podcast episode explores how innovation in women’s health can improve health outcomes and drive economic growth, featuring Women’s Health Minister Gillian Merron. Chaired by Dr Dominique Allwood, Chief Executive of Imperial College Health Partners, and with Dr MaryAnn Ferreux, Chief Medical Officer at Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, the episode asks a powerful question: what can we give to advance women’s health, and what do we all stand to gain as a result? The government has committed to updating the Women’s Health Strategy for England, and innovation will be central to delivering its ambitions. Baroness Merron describes her role sitting at the heart of the government’s commitment to driving change in women health and confirms in this episode, the updated strategy will include new diagnostic technologies, digital tools and advances in research.

July 18, 2025Episode 6116 min

61: The implementation challenge

Innovation is central to the delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan. In this episode, Chief Executive of Health Innovation South West, Jon Siddall, chats to Dr Malte Gerhold, Director of Innovation and Improvement at The Health Foundation about the 'Implementation Challenge', exploring the barriers to the implementation of innovation and how we can better support it at a local level.

January 30, 2025Episode 6025 min

60: Improving health and wealth: how innovation contributes to economic growth

In this episode, Neville Young, Director of Enterprise and Innovation at Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, is joined by Michael Wood, Head of Health Economic Partnerships at NHS Confederation, and colleague Amy Lochtie, West Yorkshire Innovation Hub Director also from Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber. The Chancellor reconfirmed this week that economic growth is the number one mission of this government. Nev, Amy and Michael discuss the role health innovation plays in delivering economic growth, and why health is a driver for wealth. They discuss the importance of working in collaboration and share insight into how to take a place-based approach.

November 29, 2024Episode 5919 min

59: Tackling health inequalities

In this episode, Richard Stubbs, Chair of the Health Innovation Network and Chief Executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber is joined by Professor Bola Owolabi, Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England. Richard and Bola discuss what we actually mean when we talk about health inequalities and how the Core20Plus5 approach is tackling this complex issue. They also shine a light on some of the great working taking place across the country and share advice for innovators who want to help.

November 1, 2024Episode 5836 min

58: Simplifying the health data ecosystem to turbocharge research, boost innovation and drive advances in care

In this episode, Piers Ricketts, Chief Executive at Health Innovation East is joined by Rebecca Cosgriff, Programme Director for the Data for Research and Development Programme at NHS England.The Programme's vision is a thriving health data ecosystem for research that improves care, boosts innovation, and sustains the NHS. Its mission is to deliver sustainable, secure and rapid access to the world’s largest linked health datasets.They discuss the developments that are giving researchers rapid, secure access to the data they need, and increasing transparency for the public about how their data is used.They also look at the issues facing researchers and how NHS England's Data for Research & Development Programme is tackling them, including areas such as diversity in research, speed of access to data and the importance of public trust.

September 13, 2024Episode 5716 min

57: Effective NHS and industry partnerships with Dr Amit Aggarwal - ABPI

In this episode, Nicole McGlennon, Managing Director of Health Innovation East Midlands, is joined by Dr Amit Aggarwal, Executive Director of Medical Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).Dr Amit shares more about the ABPI’s mission to make the UK the best place to research, develop and use the medicines of the future and explains the importance of the pharmaceutical industry to the UK and its economic benefitThe discussion shares examples of collaborative working across the innovation ecosystem and the barriers to adopting innovation. It also covers a new piece of guidance which the ABPI has launched, in partnership with NHS Confederation, on how to develop effective industry partnerships - a practical how-to guide both for companies and NHS organisations about how you can set up a partnership. You can find the guidance here.

March 18, 2024Episode 5636 min

56: NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme (NIPP) episode 5: Reflections from NHS Programme Manager for Health Innovation Network Commissions, Tayo Owodunni

In this final episode, we hear from some of those who’ve contributed to the podcast series and get reaction and comment from Tayo Owodunni, the NHS Programme Manager for Health Innovation Network Commissions. Tayo, who has a public health background and previously provided programme management for the COVID-19 multi-agency test and trace programme, explains where the idea for NIPP came from and his involvement in its rollout.Hear Tayo’s reaction to discussions in earlier episodes in this series about programmes that are improving disparities in healthcare including remote monitoring, community engagement, and digital technology. We are reminded of the importance of co-production and community involvement in addressing health inequalities through the example of the Heal-D programme, which is a response to people of African and Caribbean heritage being at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We close with an insight into Tayo’s thoughts on what the future holds for NIPP and how he sees the programme progressing over the coming months and years.In conversation with Nigel Thompson is:Tayo Owodunni, NHS Programme Manager for Health Innovation Network Commissions

March 11, 2024Episode 5525 min

55: NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme (NIPP) episode 4: Reducing impact on hospitals - part 2

In the second part of our NHS NIPP podcast about reducing impact on hospitals, we explore innovative approaches to patient care post-COVID-19. We are joined by Professor Dame Caroline Watkins, Professor of Stroke and Older People's Care within the University of Central Lancashire’s Faculty of Health and Care for an insightful discussion on collaborative team efforts in the Northwest, specifically in neonatal care, highlighting initiatives to reduce preterm babies' hospital stays by offering additional support at home and highlighting the importance of understanding needs and tailoring support to suit different family circumstances.Stuart Jeffery, a Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex) at the University of Kent, shares insights into a discharge-to-assess model for older patients, emphasising the need for improved efficiency and improving access to healthcare. The discussion delves into the role of technology with considerations for remote monitoring and digital advancements and highlights barriers to be overcome, such as culture, funding and governance.In conversation with Nigel Thompson are:Professor Dame Caroline Watkins, Professor of Stroke and Older People's Care within the University of Central Lancashire’s Faculty of Health and Care ,one of just two nursing professors of stroke care in the UK, and Implementation lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (NIHR ARC North West Coast).Stuart Jeffery, Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (NIHR ARC KSS) at the University of Kent

March 4, 2024Episode 5433 min

54: NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme (NIPP) episode 3: Reducing impact on hospitals - part 1

Hear about NHS NIPP initiatives that are reducing impact on hospitals and addressing health inequalities. Louise Hall, Evaluation Lead for Health Innovation South West explores their Community Assessment & Treatment Unit (CATU) initiative to enable frail, older patients to be treated closer to home while also reducing hospital admissions. In Sheffield, a different approach is being taken and Professor Suzanne Mason from the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research discusses how multidisciplinary teams working in urgent care hubs are reducing hospital admissions, mainly in older people, by accepting referrals for patients who don’t need to go to hospital. Professor Dan Lasserson, who is the only Professor of Ambulatory Care in the UK and is based at the University of Warwick, focuses on a research programme examining hospital-level care at home for frail older adults. All three emphasise the importance of understanding culture change in healthcare and the importance of different groups working together to meet diverse needs and enable sustainable innovation. These initiatives aim to improve patient and carer experiences and offer solutions to health inequalities by providing effective care outside of traditional hospital settings.In conversation with Nigel Thompson are:Louise Hall, Evaluation Lead from the Health Innovation South West team (before joining the team in 2016, Louise worked in the charity sector, leading evaluation activities and analysis at Marie Curie and Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse).Professor Suzanne Mason is from the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research. She is Deputy Director and Urgent Care theme lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber (NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber) and the national NIHR ARCs lead for Urgent and Emergency Care. With close ties to Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, she’s also a consultant in the emergency department at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.Professor Dan Lasserson is the only Professor of Ambulatory Care in the UK and is based at the University of Warwick. He is Acute Care Interfaces theme lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands (NIHR ARC West Midlands).